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DIESEL has slowly and steadily risen from its use in tractors, trucks and mainland taxis to the commonly used fuel in British passenger cars, which is insignificant compared to its shameful rate of collapse.
Diesel was once advertised as a more fuel-efficient and less carbon-intensive propellant than gasoline, but in recent years, the 2015 “Diesel Gate” scandal that was caught by Volkswagen cheating in emission tests to sell diesel vehicles has greatly damaged The green image of diesel.
However, even before this, there were rumors that the fuel was not as clean as the manufacturer said. The study disclosed for the first time by the British “Sunday Times” found that fuel is responsible for most of the pollution that causes 40,000 deaths in the UK each year.
The preliminary report commissioned by the Ministry of Environment, Defra, attributed the increase in nitrogen dioxide emissions and high levels of tiny toxic particles to diesel vehicles, which can enter every organ of the body through the lungs.
Medical professionals are calling on the government to remove diesel vehicles from the roads in the UK. Scientists have found that tiny particles in air pollution can significantly exacerbate infections and make antibiotics more difficult to treat. Concerns about the impact of air quality on human health are partly due to research on diesel emissions, which led to the introduction of an ultra-low emission zone in London in 2019.
As it happens, as diesel loses its green image, battery and electric motor technology has been steadily improving, which means that those looking for cheaper or more environmentally friendly cars now have alternative options, such as pure electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles.
The British government has since announced that from 2030, all new cars sold must be at least hybrid vehicles, and from 2035 onwards must be pure electric vehicles.
But even after that time, we can still buy a variety of used cars, which means that the high-quality gasoline and gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles that are now available still have a long way to go.
In the past decade, with the introduction of small turbocharged engines and mild hybrid electrification, the power and fuel efficiency of gasoline vehicles have improved significantly, which means that these engines are now the main engine types on the market.
Although diesel can still provide competitive packages for those with high mileage, for daily driving, the improvement of gasoline engines means that the difference in fuel efficiency is now negligible.
Therefore, for those who do not like highway mileage, purchasing a gasoline-powered car may be the best choice, whether from the initial expenditure (the purchase price of a diesel car is still more expensive than a gasoline car) or the impact on the health of the car.
Therefore, for anyone looking to switch from a diesel engine to a gasoline engine or hybrid car, here are 10 options—in the small car, family car, and crossover market segments—that provide great value.
The modern compact city car provides an impressive interior space and a considerable level of interior technology for five people. The Connect SE model is equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touch screen, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and is equipped with a reversing camera.
Although the i10 is equipped with a 1-liter three-cylinder engine, the 1.2 extra cylinder adds more refinement, making it more suitable for highway driving. The fit, finish and ride quality are also very good.
Competitors include Kia Picanto, Toyota Aygo and Dacia Sandero (although it is slightly larger and has better specifications).
Ford Fiesta is almost the default choice for ultra-mini models. It looks good, it is screwed together correctly and it does drive quite well, especially the ST-Line version has a slightly stiffer suspension.
The 1-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine provides sufficient power by adding 48V mild hybrid technology, and is stable and quiet. The interior is equipped with many technologies for this market segment, including heated windshields and a good infotainment system, as well as parking sensors and cameras.
However, it may not be as spacious as some of its competitors. Competitors such as Seat Ibiza and Honda Jazz provide more space in the rear and trunk. However, Carnival is roughly equivalent to Volkswagen Polo.
Hearing that the latest Dacia Sandero represents our expectations of this Romanian car manufacturer, James May listened with gusto. Although the entry-level Access model may be “very affordable” at £7,995, it may be too crude for most people. On the other hand, the 1.0 TCe 90 Comfort model, the highest specification, has more advantages in terms of material comfort, and it will still not break fortune at a price of £12,045.
Interior technology includes all-round power windows, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, rear-view cameras, 8-inch infotainment touch screen with smartphone mirroring and keyless entry.
The 999cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine delivers 89bhp through a six-speed manual transmission. Although it may not be as fast as competitors such as Carnival and Seat Ibiza, it has a lot of mid-to-low-range performance.
Compared with Sandero, at the other end of the small car series, the Audi A1 has a very small market segment as a premium car.
It is well done, has the upscale feel implied by the price tag, and the stylish badge has enough street credibility. Inside, the technical level of cruise control, 8.8-inch touch screen, wireless phone charging and a beautiful six-speaker stereo system is high. In sports decoration, the 16-inch alloy wheels look good and will not completely ruin the riding experience.
Competitors in the high-end small car segment include Mini and the slightly larger BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class sedans. However, if you can do without the badge, then the Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 208 offer higher value in terms of value for money.
The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf is as elegant and pleasant as ever. As early as 2014, Jeremy Clarkson wrote about the sixth-generation golf: “Golf is synonymous with everything a car really needs. This is the answer to every driving question asked.” Golf It may have changed; the appeal has not.
The quality is very good, the ride and handling are very good, the gasoline engine is frugal and powerful, and the specifications are high even if it is an entry-level decoration. In the 1.5 TSI Life version, buyers can get automatic lights and wipers, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, wireless phone charging, front and rear parking sensors, traffic sign recognition, front and rear center armrests, front seat adjustable lumbar support and 10-inch infotainment touch screen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and DAB radio.
The 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the TSI 150 provides 130bhp and 52.3mpg fuel economy, which means it is very suitable for use on highways or around towns.
Leon is more spacious than Golf, has a lot of standard equipment, high quality, uses the same frugal, powerful 1.5-liter engine, and most importantly, has conducted some negotiations on the price, Seat can be said to provide better value.
FR models are equipped with sports suspension as standard, making it stronger and making it more sporty than standard golf. Although the operating system is more intuitive than Golf, using the touch screen to control certain heat and fan control functions can be annoying and distracting. Buyers can get a 10-inch touch screen, a well-functioning voice control system, and many other standard kits, such as smartphone mirroring, DAB radio, and seven-speaker audio system.
Compared with the Golf, there is more trunk and passenger space, which is about the same as the Ford Focus. Nevertheless, Skoda’s competitors still beat Leon in the department.
All in all, the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine does a good job in terms of power and fuel economy, and Leon feels like a well-made quality product.
Another type of car, such as Carnival and Golf, feels like the default choice in its market segment. Focus has excellent driving dynamics, good driving experience and decent behavior on the highway. It is also more spacious than some competitors such as golf.
The new Focus gets Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment system and a large number of driver assistance functions, such as active emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, and active parking assist to realize automatic parking operations. Compared with the standard model, the ST-Line adds a more aggressive styling and a stronger and more sporty suspension inside and outside.
The 48V hybrid power system makes the 1-liter EcoBoost engine more efficient, which is why hybrid vehicles are the first choice, rather than the only single gasoline model left.
It’s been a few years now, but the Mazda 3 still looks amazing. Mazda did not choose a small turbocharged engine, but insisted on using a 2-liter naturally aspirated engine, although it uses cylinder deactivation and hybrid assistance to restore good power and fuel economy.
Mazda3 provides a fairly solid driving experience, although it is far from sporty. It is very civilized on highway cruising, and standard equipment including an easy-to-use infotainment system is generous. A particular benefit of the infotainment and climate control settings is the use of rotary controls and buttons instead of the driver having to access all functions through the touch screen. These systems can be operated by feeling and memory, rather than distracting drivers and forcing them to divert their attention to the road. The quality of the interior is one of Mazda’s other advantages. In general, it is a well-made car.
Maybe it is more left-handed than competitors such as Focus and Golf, but Mazda shouldn’t be discounted as an option just because of style and quality.
Kuga is our best family car of the year selected by readers of the 2021 Car Awards, and that’s for good reason. The appearance is not bad, the driving power is very good, the internal space is spacious and flexible, the price is favorable, and the power system has a wide range of options.
The interior is a bit disappointing in terms of material quality and cumbersome infotainment system, but there is a lot of space in the rear, and there is a lot of flexibility and space maximization opportunities when folding the seats. The boot size is about average.
Volvo’s stylish compact SUV may have won the European Car of the Year Award in 2018, but it is still a competitive product in this segment because it looks good and the interior is luxurious, upscale and comfortable. In addition, the XC40′s pricing is very attractive, and its value is quite good.
The interior space is comparable to rivals such as the BMW X1 and Volkswagen Tiguan, although the rear seats neither slide nor tilt like these models. Although the instrument panel is aesthetically neat, it means that things such as temperature control can be accessed via the infotainment touch screen, which can distract the driver.
The 1.5-liter turbocharged T3 engine is the best choice in the XC40, providing a perfect combination of 161bhp performance and economy.
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Post time: Nov-18-2021